Conduit electric-railway system.



Paiented July 3|, |9oo.

vF. M. ASHL'EY. CQNDIJIT ELECTRIC RAILW'AY'SYSTEM.

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Nu. 654,586. Patentemuly 3i, |900.

. F. M. ASHLEY.

CONDUIT ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

(Application filed Feb. 2B, 1898.) (No Model.)

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No. 654,586. Patented July 3l, |900.

F. M. ASHLEY. CONDUIT ELECTRIC RILWAY SYSTEM.

(Appgation led Feb. 26, 1.808.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-#sheen 3.

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FRANK M. ASHLEY, oE NEw YORK, N. Y., AssIGNoE iro THE GENEEAE ELECTRIC COMPANY, CE NEW YORK.

consultancorato-RAILWAY SYSTEM;

srECFrCnTIoN forming peut of Lettere raient No. 654,586, aerea July 31, ieoo.. Application filed Tummy 26,1898. salerno. 671,796. monedero To. @ZZ whom t may concorre.; A,

, Be it known that I, FRANK. M. ASHLEY, a citizenA of the United States, residing at New York, (Brooklym) county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements` in Conduit Electric- Railway Systems, of which the following is..a specification. A 4 A A t This invention relates to Conduit electricrailway systems, the object being to provide means for making the apparatus inside of the conduit easily and quickly accessible for the purpose of inspection and repairs.

The invention in general consists of a conduit provided with a removable cover-plate or top to which the main portions of the working mechanism inside of the conduit are attached.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

whichi Figure lis a longitudinal section of my conduit. Fig. 2 isa perspective View of the conduit and its cover, the latter being detached. Figs. 3 and 4^ are transversel sections of the conduit, showing theA cover closed and open. Fig. 5 is a similar sectionoi:` a lmodification in which no open slot is used, Figs. 6,7, and 8 are respectively a section,side elevation, and detail of the conduit, illustrating` a form of hinge for the cover.- Figs. 9 and lO are respectivelya plan and detail of a modified form of hinge. Fig. ll is a sectional view of the conduit wherein two hinged covers aroused and showing how the conduit can be constructed of two angle-irons. are sectional views of a conduit constructed in accordance with my invention and enr bodying an automatic breaker. Fig. 14 is a sectional detail of the working cut-out device between the sectional conductor and the main conductor, and Fig. l5 is a viewof a hook for lifting the cover.

The construction of the conduit is of .any of the usual types. The drawings illustrate it as cast or rolled in'either one or two pieces and having" a general rectangular shape. When made in two pieces, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and ll, the cost of production will probably be less than if made in one piece, as illustrated in the other iigures; but the sta- Figs. 12 and 13.

the cover to swing upon it as an axis. construction shown in Figs. 9 and l0 is simi- "bility of 'the conduit is greater if made in one piece, andthis form I prefer.

My invention relates more particularly to the cover or top of the conduit. This'is represented in the drawings by a. It is .to be easily detachable or lifted to exposeA the interior of the conduit by means of apeculiarv 'lugs b and to occupy the space between the barb and the edge of the conduit. The lugs a are adapted to project into and fill the space between the lugs 7) and rest against the uu-l der side of the bar b when the cover is closed. Several modifications of this hinge are shown.

In Figs. 6,7, and 8 the bar Z1 and lugs b are ysubstituted by a continuous flange b2, provided at intervals with perforations and with bolts b3, projecting from a continuous rod b4.

`The edge of the cover is semic lindrical as b 7 shown at a3, but is provided with notches at.

-When the parts are together, the rod h4 rests in the hollow side of the semicylindrical edge ctwith the bolts h3 passing through the notches and through lthe flange b2. On the underside A.of'theHarige the bolts are provided with nuts which hold them` in place while permitting The lar to that just described, except that the flange b2 is notched instead of perforated and the bolts are provided with permanent heads.

Inside of the conduit are located brackets c at suitable intervalsL-,the uppere'nds of which support the free edge of the cover a. In Fig. l2 I havel illustrated a form ofl latch d, which is attached to thecover and is adapted to engage with a lug d' on a bracket c. When the cover is to be lifted, the latch may be released by inserting a hook d2, Fig. 15,

through the slot of the conduit.

The main supply-conductor is indicated by IOO A. It is thoroughly insulated and deposited in a groove along the bottom of the conduit. Each of the cover-plates a. is adaptedpto support a section of the sectional conductor e. Each plate has attached to its under side one or more inverted cups j', in the bottom of which is suitably fixed and insulated acontact-piecef'. This is in electrical connection with the main conductor A by means of a branch wire g, leading through a suitable stuffing-box g. The lower end of the cup is closed by ascrew-plug h, provided with a nonconducting bushing h', through which passes a reciprocating rod 'L'. The inner end of this rod carries a contact-piece i', adapted to connect with f. The outer end of the rod passes through a flexible bulbj, to which it is secured, and is provided with a suitable clamp which is attached to a section of the conductor e. The flexible bulb j may be of metal, leather, rubber, or other suitable material which will permit the contact t" to make connection with contact f. It is to be adjusted to the inverted cupj' in such a manner as to be substanA tially air and water tight. This construction provides for the thorough protection and insulation of the contact-piecef. I preferably attach two of these insulators to each cover, locating them near the extremities thereof, and as the section e is of the same length as the plate the swing of the plate upward upon the hinge will carry the insulators and the section out of the conduit and into position for easy inspection and repair. When the cover is thus lifted, it is desirable that the electrical connection with the main conductor A shall be broken in order that no escape of current or shocks may be sustained. For this purpose I have provided a cut-out box fm, through which the conductor g passes and in which a break in its circuit is made. This break is normally bridged by a contact-piece n, fixed to the end of a plunger n', which is subject to the pressure of a spring n2, tending to open the circuit of wire g. When the cover is down, a finger 0 holds the plunger ln. inward and maintains the circuit through g complete; but when the cover is lifted the nger 0 leaves the head of the plunger, which then moves outward under the action of the spring and breaks the circuit. So long, therefore, as the cover is open no current can reach the parts attached to it.

The contact device carried by the car is an under contact-trolley p, which runs in connection with the sectional conductor e and lifts its sections toclose the circuit at f as it moves along.

The construction of my hinged cover is of course applicable to any conduit system.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In an electric-railway system, the combination with a conduit, of a hinged cover therefor, sectional workin g conductors in said conduit, and means for establishing electrical connection between said conductors and the motor of the car when said cover is in its nor# mal position over the conduit.

2. In an electric railway, the combination of a conduit, a hinged cover therefor, and a sectional working conductor carried by said cover, substantially as described.

3. In an electric railway, the combination of a conduit, a hinged cover therefor, a sectional working conductor supported by the cover, and a cut-out for said conductor.

4:. In an electric railway, the combination of a conduit, a cover hinged thereto, a sectional working conductor attached to said cover, and a cut-out for said conductor which is automatically operated when the cover is swung on its hinge.

5. In an electric-railway system, the com bination with a conduit, of a removable cover therefor, contact devices carried by said cover and operative only when the cover is in its closing position. l

6. In an electric railway, the combination of a sectional conductor, a support therefor consisting of a cup provided with contactpoints one of which is movable, and a ilexible bulb surrounding one'end of the cup, to which the movable contact-piece and the sec; tional conductor are attached substantially as described.

7. In an electric-railway system, the com bination of a conduit, a movable cover there for, a main conductor, a sectional conductor, the sections of said conductor being carried by said cover, a branch wire between the two conductors, a cut-out in said branch wire and means connected with the cover for operating said cut-out, substantially as described.

8. In an electric-railway system, the com= bination with a conduit, of a movable cover therefor, sectional Working conductors supported by said cover and adapted to reciprocate independently thereof.

9. The combination with a conduit, of a movable cover therefor, contact devices carried by said cover and operative only when the cover is in the closing position, sectional working conductors carried by the said cover and adapted to have movement independent thereof to be connected with said contact de vices.

10. The combination with a conduit, of a movable cover therefor, contacts carried by said cover and operative only when said cover is in its closing position, reciprocative working conductor-sections carried by said cover, a contact device carried by a car and adapted to engage with the said working sections and cause them to become electrically connected with said contacts.

11. The combination with a conduit, of a movable cover therefor, contacts supported bysaid cover, a line conductor connected with said contacts, andmeans for breaking said connection when the cover is moved.

l2. The combination with a conduit, of a movable cover therefor, contacts carried by said cover, line conductors connected with IIO.

said contacts, cut-outs in said connections, said switeh-pieee against said terminals when 1o and means carried by said cover adapted to the Cover is in lts closing position. open said eut-outs when the cover is raised. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my 13. The combination With a conduit, of a hand this 13th day of November, 1897. movable cover therefor, a line conductor, contaets adapted to be connected therewith, a FRANK M ASHLEY' switch-piece normally pressedaway from the Witnesses: terminals of said contacts and conductor, and WM. A. ROSENBAUM,

a nger carried by said @over adapted to press HARRY BAILEY. 

